Tearing, cracking, or shattering of leaf during handling, most often because moisture is too low or the leaf was moved too roughly. Thick, brittle types such as Broadleaf and heavily fermented madurowrapper break more readily than thin shade leaf.
Why it matters
Every broken wrapper is a leaf that has to be downgraded, so breakage rates drive both cost and how carefully a factory times its mojas and handling.
In context
"They stopped work at midday because the room had dried out and breakage was climbing."